-Bell Cranel-
Her eyes opened wide. With hitched breath, she got to her feet, but instead of the cozy home she had recently gotten to know, Bell found herself in… a farm?
The rudimentary yet sturdy houses built by hand. The long fields with different crops, from potatoes to carrots, and her favorite leafy greens. The tall trees and slightly unstable yet firm ground distinct to mountainous terrain…
‘’I’m… home?’’ She asked herself, confused. ‘’But how? I was just reading that book and…’’
A certain glow caught her eye. A soft, passing river by the village. It was where most of the settlement’s water came from, and it helped with growing crops as abundant as they had.
Yet, the moment Bell stepped forward, consumed by nostalgia, she didn’t see her own reflection in the clean waters. Instead, the smiling face of a brown-haired man greeted her.
‘’Roy?’’ She frowned.
‘’Oh, thought this would never start, sheesh.’’ The reflection spoke, making her almost take a step back. ‘’Well, let’s start, shall we?’’
‘‘Start? Start what—’’ Yet, the answer was provided by her own mind. The last words she read from the book.
Bell froze as her environment changed. Now, instead of the riverside, she was inside a wooden home. Her old house, she realized, thanks to the childish drawings on the walls, the old table and the marks she left on it with her teeth when she was little, and the familiar fireplace that always brought warmth in the cold winter nights.
In front of her was ‘‘Roy’’, yet the man looked strange. His dark cloak was entirely grey, and so was his body, as if his colors had suddenly turned off.
‘’What is magic to you?’’ He asked, tilting his head to the side.
Bell’s mouth opened and closed. She had… so, so many questions, but the only thing that escaped her was the answer.
‘’A strong power.’’ She said, memories of her recent adventures flooding her mind. Especially a certain goblin. ‘’A weapon that puts me far above the rest. Something that makes me versatile.’’
The grey Roy merely smiled. ‘’Midna is quite the menace, isn’t she?’’
The scenery changed. Instead of the cozy home, she was now in the middle of a rainy field. ‘’Roy’’, this time with a blue, sapphire-like coloration across his entire body, slowly turned to face her with a frown.
‘’What sort of thing is magic to you?’’ He prodded further, searching for meaning.
Suddenly, the turbulent climate worsened. A lightning bolt struck down the landscape, scorching it with the cloud’s fury. But Bell remained still, as she felt no need to fear the raging storm.
‘’A storm.’’ She answered, meeting his gaze. ‘’Helpful when needed, but dangerous to those that desire it when it lingers far past its welcome.’’
‘’Hm… Checks out.’’ Once more, Roy agreed, before vanishing into motes of light.
When Bell blinked, she was now standing on… red. Looking up revealed that she was being held in the hand of a gigantic Roy of a ruby coloration. The giant grinned, like a mischievous child who had eaten cookies past bedtime.
‘’What do you want from magic, little rabbit?’’ He tilted his head, genuine curiosity in his tone.
This time, Bell’s mind went somewhere darker.
The towering form of a dark bull with furious, glowing red eyes appeared behind the red Roy. Its meaty, raised hand a promise of pain and loss.
The crunching of soft tissue and bone, the broken body at her feet, the warm blood against her body…
She hated it. Hated every second of it. Hated who had brought such pain to her, and wanted them to pay a hundred times over what she was owed.
And even then, she would never be satisfied. Not until a head of brown hair rested on her neck. Not until she felt his breathing against her collarbone. Not until those strong arms hugged her close, teasing her about some nonsense the man had come up with once more.
Not until she could keep him safe.
‘’To always be there. To be the first who arrives when someone’s in trouble.’’ Bell explained, determination thick in her tone. ‘’Fast as lightning itself, so I can always be by their side.’’
Suddenly, the minotaur was pierced through by furious lightning. An undodgeable attack, faster than sight, faster than sound, faster than thought.
For a moment, Bell thought she saw the giant Roy look away in… embarrassment? Until he dropped her off, letting her fall into nothingness.
And lastly, Bell found herself in a vast void. An orange-colored Roy, like a precious topaz, stood just on the corner of her eye. At her side.
‘’Is that all?’’ He hummed.
Then, a wave of nostalgia and embarrassment hit her. Bell scratched the back of her head, offering a sheepish smile.
‘’If possible… I would like to help people. Those in my Familia, and those who need a hand, just like a Hero would do.’’
All four Roys she had seen until now appeared in front of her. Each with that unique, cocky grin that spelled trouble for whoever got involved.
‘’’’That sounds just like you, bun-bun. Childish yet adorable.’’’’ They spoke at once.
Bell huffed, ears drooping to the side of her head. ‘’Don’t just mock me, will you?’’
Her only answer was amused chuckles.
Bell felt her eyes get heavy again. Yet, just as she was about to fall asleep, a soft touch pulled her back to wakefulness… and the scene made her heart skip a beat.
On a beautiful, white bed, she was resting against a strong chest with a soft, calming heartbeat. Looking up revealed Roy, the proper Roy, staring down at her with chocolate eyes filled with… desire?
‘’Now then, bun-bun.’’ His voice made a shiver go down her spine, yet her ears twitched at attention. ‘’What do you think magic is… to your partner?’’
‘P-partner…?’ Her face felt hot, even in what she guessed was a dream of sorts.
Yet, like many times before, the answer escaped her immediately.
‘’It’s… a tool.’’ She decided with a huff, directing a knowing, if tired smile at him. ‘’If it’s convenient to him, he’ll use it, even if it comes at a risk, because for Roy Raynolds… that’s just how he lives, isn’t it?’’
‘’So hurtful~’’ He whined with a pout that changed back to a smile a second later as he closed the distance. ‘’But you’re not wrong.’’
‘’…Roy?’’ Bell asked shyly, yet clung to him nonetheless. ‘’Ah.’’
Soft lips pressed against hers. Bell’s body stilled, yet every little instinct in her body told her to relax, and she did, melting into the warm embrace and the loving, heartfelt kiss.
A second later, it was gone, not even a strand of saliva acting as proof of the union. Yet, Bell felt herself yearning for more nonetheless.
With wide, ruby eyes, Bell looked up at the smiling, stupid man. ‘’R-Roy… I… I like—‘’
Her words were interrupted by two fingers pressing onto her lips. She frowned, but a tiny wink and a sly grin were what she was presented with.
‘’It’s time to wake up, bun-bun,’’ Roy said, pulling her face against his chest.
And Bell let herself sink into that embrace.
-X-x-X-
-Roy Raynolds-
‘’Well, that’s weird…’’ I hummed and looked around.
Tall, concrete structures, paved streets, and the smell of trash and pollution. Yet, there wasn’t a hint of winter’s dryness or Summer’s humidity.
‘’…You basically just pulled me into generic city 101, you know?’’
The sound of soft steps made me turn to the side. There stood a certain bunny girl, only that in grey colors instead of her usual white. She clasped her hands behind her back, watching in childish amazement all around.
‘’So this is what Roy’s world looks like…’’ She hummed, making me frown. ‘Bell’ turned to me with a soft smile. ‘’Let’s get started, alright?’’
I blinked. ‘’…Sure.’’
‘’What is magic to you?’’ She asked.
My mouth opened, and words escaped me unwillingly, yet I couldn’t deny they were the truth.
‘’Magic is a tool. It’s for those who wield it to use as they see fit. But it has to be dangerous somehow. Everything comes at a cost, and nothing is free.’’ I explained.
‘Where the fuck did that come from?’ I slapped my mouth, concerned. ‘Also, duh, magic is a tool, but it’s also cool as hell, so what kind of lame answer is that?’
‘’What a sad answer.’’ Even the fake bun-bun agreed!
My environment changed. This time, I was stuck in a library. Tall bookshelves as far as the eye could see, yet in front of me rested possibly the ‘’greatest’’ book humankind that humanity had ever created: a working computer.
It quickly swiped between thousands and thousands of images, some modern media I recognized, but most of it was just a blur.
‘’That’s a strange book…’’ A sapphire colored Bell sat at my side, rummaging through a book with a happy expression, only stealing glances at whatever I was doing with the device. ‘’What sort of thing is magic to you?’’
‘Isn’t that just the same question?’ I wondered, but shook my head. ‘No, it’s…’
‘’Magic is a palette of colors,’’ I said, eyes narrowing as I tried to make up the images in front of me. ‘’It’s whatever you want to make it be. A shield, a fireball, a lightning bolt, poison, healing. Really, the answer is anything.’’
‘Bell’ chuckled, closing the book with a soft thud. ‘’How creative… but that also sounds kind of childish, doesn’t it?’’
‘’Ah yes, sass me some more, why don’t you.’’ I scoffed playfully.
Another shift. These were really getting out of style. However, instead of one of my home’s scenarios, I was on a busy street, with vendors and people going about their day. Some were humans, but others were creatures pulled out of fantasy, like elves, dwarves, and even animal people.
It was Orario’s market district.
A pair of arms embraced me from behind. Something soft and bountiful pressed against my back, and by looking down, I could see a pair of red arms holding me close. A red Bell?
‘’What do you seek from magic?’’ The red one purred directly into my ear, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine.
‘’Something interesting.’’ I decided. ‘’Something that I would have to pick my brain at to use, yet is also very fun. It needs to keep me entertained and be useful at the same time.’’
‘’Ehh? So Roy likes puzzles?’’ She hummed into my ear.
‘’…Just a tad.’’ I admitted.
I blinked, and the world fell apart, a dark, cold void surrounding me from all sides, except for a golden Bell that was staring me right in the eye, curiosity in her gaze.
‘’Is that all?’’ She wondered.
‘’No, not at all.’’ I scoffed but quickly replaced it with a grin. ‘’If I have magic, then you better make it come with a hot magic teacher. Them the rules Be—err, not-bun-bun.’’
‘’…Perv.’’ Surprisingly enough, the Bell pouted adorably, only for her to fall into soft chuckles. ‘’But that’s fine too. There’s never been a good hero without their wizard teacher!’’
I snorted, conceding the point.
This Bell, too, disappeared… only for all four to reappear at once, focusing on me from different angles.
‘’’’Roy Raynolds is quite the selfish man.’’’’ They said.
‘’No point in denying that.’’ I chuckled, mirth thick in my tone.
A sudden yawn escaped past my lips, yet I didn’t feel tired at all. My eyes closed unwillingly… and shot right open once more.
Now I was on a soft mattress. It was clearly nighttime, if the dim candlelight was anything to go by. I was covered by a fluffy, thick blanket.
Something twitched on my arms, and a pair of white ears peeked from underneath the covers. I raised an amused eyebrow as Bell, who was currently cuddling up to me, smiled as the soft blankets fell off her face.
‘’What is magic… to your partner?’’ She asked shyly.
‘’Oh, partner, is it? Are you coming onto me, Bell Cranel?’’ I teased, but my only answer was a soft slap to the chest and an annoyed pout. ‘’Fine, fine… If I had to guess…’’
My lips pursed as my interactions with Bell coursed through my mind. Her worry about my well-being, her willingness to throw herself into danger’s clutches to ‘’do the right thing’’, and her general kindness, with the healthy amount of snark that she was starting to slowly develop.
‘’Since Bell is an adorable sap of a bun and a good person to boot…’’ I started, tone softening slightly as my hand hesitantly crept around her waist. ‘’Probably something flashy and strong. Something a hero would use to save the day and protect her dear friends.’’
Two hands clasped the sides of my face, and I paused. A pair of soft lips pressed against mine. The taste of blueberries filled my tongue as Bell leaned against me.
I blinked as the moment was cut short. Bell smiled at me with such loving eyes that it made any sort of teasing immediately die in my throat.
‘’It’s time to wake up, Roy.’’ She giggled.
-X-x-X-
‘’Roy… Roy…!’’ A pair of arms started shaking me side to side.
‘’I’m awake… I’m awake…’’ I groaned, nuzzling the plentiful softness against my head. Whatever blanket was enveloping me just made itself tighter. ‘’…Label?’’
‘’Nope!’’ I blinked awake at the cheerful tone. Looking up revealed the pretty face of a smiling woman, with brown hair and equally brown, wing-like protrusions at the side of her head that flapped happily. ‘’It’s Dodo!’’
‘’Oh, hi, Dodo.’’ I greeted, still a bit sleepy.
‘’Hi, Master!’’ The girl replied cheerfully.
Looking downwards revealed that the pillow I was nuzzling against was, in reality, Dodo’s breasts straining against the buttoned fabric of her white shirt. ‘’Damn, these are huge.’’
‘’Hm, hm~’’ The Jack Bird nodded. The motion caused those two funbags to rub against my face.
‘No, seriously, what even are these? Double K? L? Falna should be actually useful and measure these things.’
‘’Stop being a pervert and pay attention!’’ A panicked, high-pitched voice made me turn around. The massive form of Dodo shifted to support the position as she happily hummed a tune.
‘’Oh, hey, Hestia.’’ I greeted the petite Goddess, who was currently holding an empty book in her hand, looking at me like I had just killed a man. ‘’What’s wrong? Those are some heavy bags under your eyes. Have you been sleeping well?’’ Find the original chapter at g.com.
‘’I—‘’ She paused, frowning in concern and releasing a tired sigh. ‘’I’m fine, just tired. Thank you for asking, but, uh… are you feeling alright?’’
‘’Don’t mind him. He always gets super mellow when he’s just waking up.’’ Midna cut through, showing her upside-down face in front of mine as she floated in the air. A mischievous grin on her face. ‘’Wakey wakey, hoomie. We done fucked up!’’
I scoffed. ‘’Bitch, don’t throw me under the bus—‘’
‘’There he is!’’ She cheered and dodged out of the way of my swiping hand.
‘’—And what do you mean we fucked up? I must have closed my eyes for thirty minutes at most.’’
‘’More like three minutes,’’ Hestia corrected. ‘’But in any case! You two read these books, didn’t you?!’’
Now that I noticed, Bell was also awake, only that catatonically looking at her hands as if they were covered in blood. Probably not the gruesome image in the bunny’s head, but nonetheless.
‘’Yeah?’’ I turned back to Hestia, raising an eyebrow. ‘’Why?’’
The Goddess deflated, a low groan escaping past her lips. I had to turn to someone else for answers, because it seemed that both my Goddess and Familia Captain were currently going through something.
‘’Midna?’’ I asked.
‘’Soo… those books were magic books—’’ The goblin started, taking a seat on my lap, which Dodo happily took as an invitation to include her in the feathery embrace. ‘’—Oh damn, these are soft. Anyway, so, one-use magic books worth a hundred million valis. You read them, you get magic. Simple as shit, really.’’
‘’Backtrack right fucking there.’’ I froze, hands tightening into fists. ‘’Worth… how much?’’
Midna turned to face me with the first-ever serious expression I’ve seen on her face. Her lone red eye stared right through mine. ‘’Hundred million, give or take.’’
I felt myself grow faint.
‘’Ah, Master, don’t go to the light, don’t gooooo…’’ Dodo certainly seemed to notice.
‘’Let me die. I shall be buried in this fluffy coffin and left to rot for all eternity.’’ I said flatly.
‘’That means we’ll have to bury Dodo too.’’ Midna pointed out.
‘’Dodo doesn’t want to be buried!’’ The woman protested with a pout, then looked down at me with a tiny flush on her cheeks. ‘’But if it's with Master… Then Dodo doesn’t mind!’’
‘This is some next-level dumbassery.’ I looked her in the eye. ‘’Dodo?’’
‘’Yes, Master?’’ She tilted her head.
‘’Just focus on looking pretty, alright?’’ I smiled warmly, softly patting the feathers I could reach. ‘’That, and a very cuddly pillow.’’
The bird’s adorable smile grew a thousandfold. So much so that I could easily compare it with one of Bell’s. ‘’Dodo will do her best!’’
‘Too… much… sunshine…’ I groaned internally, squinting my eyes shut.
‘’In any case.’’ Hestia cut through our theatrics with a sigh, looking between the now ashamed Bell and me. ‘’There’s nothing to be done besides apologizing to whoever the owner of those is. Even if you didn’t know, it doesn’t take away that we took some very valuable items for ourselves.’’
‘’Counterpoint, we could just say we lost them.’’ I offered.
‘’…Roy, please.’’
‘’Or that we got robbed. Orario ain’t safe at night, if ya catch my drift.’’ Midna continued with a shrug.
‘’Midna, no. We have to take responsibility and—‘’
‘’Uhm… Maybe...’’ Bell looked down, unable to meet her Goddess’s eyes. ‘’We could replace them with some story books?’’
‘’Good answer, bun-bun!’’ I praised with a clap.
‘’Bell!’’ Hestia chastised, genuinely surprised and looking comically betrayed before staring daggers at me. ‘’And don’t put ideas on my Bell’s head or praise her for forgery, you awful man!’’
‘’It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, Hestia.’’ I stated flatly.
‘’…Why would you eat a dog?’’ Dodo asked with a scrunched-up nose. ‘’Dog probably tastes bad.’’
The Goddess, seeing herself out of options, made one last, desperate attempt and turned to the couch. Specifically, below it, where a living shadow peeked out.
‘’…Eat Book?’’ Label offered her own two cents.
‘’Hopeless, you’re all hopeless criminals.’’ Hestia sat down on the table, clutching her face between her palms. ‘’I failed as a Goddess… just bring me back to Tenkai…’’
‘’There, there…’’ Funnily enough, Midna turned her hair into a hand and used it to pat Hestia on the head.
‘’Sooo…’’ I side-glanced everyone in the room. ‘’What then?’’
‘’Dodo can help!’’ The massive bird cheered. ‘’Hand Dodo the book, pen, too!’’
Midna, Bell and I shared a glance before shrugging. With two claps of my hands, I was now showing the empty book and a fountain pen to the tall Jack Bird.
‘’Hmmm…’’ Her face scrunched up in the most adorable expression of concentration ever as she took the pen in her mouth. ‘’Letsh she…’’
And my eyes widened in shock as Dodo started to write. It was genuinely legible too. Swift as wind, the page started to fill with words, a little story about… a wall and an egg?
‘Is Dodo writing Humpy Dumpty? How does she even know that story?’ I wondered in extreme confusion. ‘’Guess that settles that.’’
‘’Here I’m wondering what else that mouth do—Ow!’’ Midna hissed and turned to Hestia with a scowl. ‘’The fuck was that for?!’’
‘’I felt like it.’’ Hestia spat spitefully.
‘’Still, this means we should have…?’’ Bell started, slowly turning to me with ruby eyes widening in realization. Legs and hands started to twitch slightly.
I grinned, matching the girl’s excitement with a too-wide grin. ‘’We have fucking magic!’’
Both of our heads snapped to Hestia, who frowned in concern. Yet, considering the kicked puppy eyes Bell was giving her, her stance would falter sooner rather than later.
‘’Ugh, fine, fine. Stop looking at me like that, you adorable little gremlins!’’ She sighed, pinching her temple with one hand as she gestured to the couch. ‘’You know the drill, shirts off, lie on your stomach. Let’s just get this over with.’’
‘’You’re the best, Hestia.’’ Bell smiled.
‘’I would kiss you right now if I wasn’t trapped between a gremlin and a soft place.’’ I said.
‘’Yeah, yeah, hurry up already!’’ She huffed.
Yet, I couldn’t help but notice a slight flush on her cheeks as she did so, or the glances she stole between me and the bunny-girl before turning away.
‘Very interesting.’ I hummed internally.
-X-x-X-
‘’Magic, it’s really magic!’’ Bell cheered, practically vibrating in place while holding the sheet of paper like it was a natural treasure. ‘’Azure B—‘’
‘’Don’t say the name!’’ Hestia panickily shouted from her place on my back, causing Bell to freeze. ‘’Magic should only be tested in the Dungeon, the D-u-n-g-e-o-n! What if you blow the entire house up?!’’
‘’Dodo likes the house. Please don’t blow it up, cute bunny!’’ The girl flapped her wings with worry on her face.
‘’D-do you really think it would be that powerful, Lady—‘’ A glare dissuaded the word from Bell’s mouth. ‘’I mean… Hestia?’’
The Goddess hummed as a powerful glow appeared on my back. Her fingers made me ever so slightly ticklish. ‘’I don’t know, but don’t take any chances. The fact that it has such a short chant… I wonder if Little Bell is always in a hurry?’’
Bell scratched the back of her head. Yet, when her eyes met mine, her face erupted into a blush, and she tore her gaze away.
‘Wonder what that’s about—Ow.’ I lightly turned my head, glaring at the Goddess who had just slapped my nape. ‘’What was that for?’’
‘’Going to the Dungeon alone, with a handicap, and throwing yourself at a pantry.’’ She whisper-shouted, looking to the side and feeling a smidge of relief at Bell, who seemed lost in her own world. ‘’Be grateful that’s all you’re getting, stupid child.’’
‘’I thank thee, oh deity whose benevolence is as vast as thee is short.’’ I deadpanned.
‘’Smartass.’’ She huffed.
Did… did Hestia just curse?
‘’In any case, you’ll find out what your magics do tomorrow. Rest up and you can—‘’ I felt the petite shortstack on top of me falter before pressing a sheet of paper to my back.
‘’Did he get something funny?’’ Midna, being ever the curious goblin, floated behind me and grinned. ‘’Well, it certainly fits hoomie to a T.’’
‘’Bitch I hope so. Shit’s engraved in my soul.’’
Hestia pulled herself off, staring at the piece of paper like it was causing her pain to do so. ‘’I think you already know the dangers of miscasting, right?’’
‘’Uh… best-case scenario, nothing happens, and worst-case one, you die on the spot or something.’’ I sat up, looking between the goblin and the goddess. ‘’You’re starting to worry me. Just give me the paper so I can see the damage.’’
‘’I hate how accurate that description was,’’ Hestia whispered under her breath and handed me my status sheet.
[Roy Raynolds.]
Species: [Human.]
Status:
[Level: 1.]
[Strength: G-252 --> F 322]
[Endurance: D-501 --> D-547]
[Dexterity: G-210 --> G-280]
[Agility: G-274 --> F-312]
[Magic: H-187 --> G-238]
‘’Oh, I knew my plan was going to work.’’ I puffed up my chest in pride, only dissuaded from commenting further thanks to Hestia’s glare. ‘’…Wait. Is this what I think it is?’’
Magic:
[Luck N’ Load.]
‘’As the hand is dealt, so are the dice cast. The stakes are high, and blood’s on the line. May this be my winning card, or may my luck herald demise.’’
‘’Did I just get gambling magic?’’ I cackled in disbelief.
My only answer was a stare down from a tired Goddess. ‘’You know, I’m just not going to bother anymore. Yeah, just…’’ The deity turned her head around, azure eyes landing on the couch bird, who tilted her head to the side.
Silently, Hestia approached the bird and plopped on her lap. Dodo blinked, her tiny pea brain having to reload for a few seconds before she happily embraced the woman.
‘’Dodo will hug Pyre Lady, even if she smells weird!’’ Dodo cheered, and the words didn’t even register to the woman as she practically fell asleep in seconds.
…So, the responsible adult was knocked out cold.
I turned to Bell with an inquisitive look, and the bunny could only share an expression of guilt between the Goddess and me… but the excitement in her sparkling eyes was palpable.
‘’Hope you’re not thinking of leaving me out, lovebirds.’’ Midna half-joked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Bell sputtered, but I only smiled wider. ‘’Let’s make it a party since we are at it. Label?’’
The shadow, surprisingly enough, had decided to wrap her shadow-like body around Dodo and the sleeping Hestia. Two blank eyes turned to me, yet she remained still.
‘’I protect house… small pyre… dumb bird…’’ She said.
‘’Who are you calling dumb?’’ Dodo protested with a pout. ‘’Dodo is the smartest!’’
‘’…Sure.’’ Label left it at that.
‘’Is it me or is Label getting more… open?’’ I whispered to the two near me, getting two nods in return. ‘’Huh.’’
‘’Maybe it’s because you put a lot of ‘’essence’’ inside her—‘’ I slapped my hand on top of Midna’s mouth.
‘’Silence, goblin. It is no time for horny.’’ I stated, turning my gaze to the door. ‘’It’s time for magic.’’
-X-x-X-
The walls of the first floor greeted us with their darkish blue hue. Our steps were slow but charged with barely hidden excitement.
‘’I can’t believe we are sneaking into the Dungeon,’’ Bell whispered, hands clenched together. We left in such a rush that she didn’t even put her armor on, while I still had mine since I didn’t really take it off. ‘’But it’s justified, right? I mean, there’s no way we could stay still…’’
‘’Them the rules, Captain.’’ I chuckled, yet mentally, I was rehearsing my supposed gambling magic’s chant. ‘’We’re just following your lead.’’
‘Wait.’ I frowned. ‘If I had a Dream Bell when getting my magic, did she have a Dream Roy? And we did kiss at the end, so…’
‘’Look alive, lovebirds. Here comes one green and ugly.’’ Midna informed us from above.
Sure enough, the moment we turned left, in the direction of the next floor’s staircase, a green, rabid, and ugly Goblin appeared. It was alone and was barely a threat in any other circumstance.
‘’All yours, bun-bun,’’ I said.
‘’I didn’t bring my daggers…!’’ Bell realized far too late as the monster jumped. As the monster dashed in our direction in what I couldn’t call anything but slow-motion, Bell’s eyes narrowed to a point as a whisper escaped past her lips. ‘’Azure Beast!’’
‘Damn, even the activation word is cool—’
Fwoosh!
I blinked as Bell disappeared from my side. I couldn’t track anything more than a blur when she moved, and what little I could? It was covered in a shower of erratic blue sparks and the sound of the air whistling, as if a high-speed train had gone by.
Bell had gone right through the Monster, turning it into a smear of blood on the ground and mist in the air. Not even the magic stone remained.
I blinked, still processing what I just saw. ‘’Place needed a paint job anyway.’’
‘’Holy shit.’’ Midna whispered, in just as much shock as I was.
‘’Guys…?’’ Bell asked from across the hallway, looking all over herself. Her form sparked with tiny, blue arcs of light, like the magic was coating her with a thin layer of itself.
‘’Yeah, Bell?’’ I questioned, taking a hesitant step forward.
Her right fist clenched, and the sparks followed anew. ‘’I… I feel amazing.’’
The breath of air I was holding suddenly released. ‘’That’s great, bun—‘’ Yet before I could finish my sentence, the air whistled again, and a flash of lightning faded into the cave, along with the sound of excited giggling.
‘’Aaaand she got high on the rush.’’ Midna sighed. Her form plopped on my back, arms wrapped around my shoulders. ‘’Anything fancy that could help us catch up to our Captain, hoomie?’’
‘’You want me to catch up to Bell, of all people?’’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘’Think it’ll be easier to get a million valis by killing kobolds, babe.’’
‘’So you gonna let her steal all the training dummies?’’ She poked my cheek with one of her nails.
‘’Hell nah.’’ We shared a little chuckle. ‘’Alright, alright… Let me focus a bit.’’
I took a deep breath, eyes closed as the words for this gambling magic came back to mind. The outside disappeared for a moment, and I could swear the only thing I heard was the sound of… the wind?
‘’As the hand is dealt, so are the dice cast. The stakes are high, and blood’s on the line. May this be my winning card, or may my luck herald demise.’’
‘’Luck N’ Load!’’
Inside my head, a kaleidoscope of colors appeared. It shifted from grey to green, blue, purple, and gold. The flashing lights reminded me of a casino’s slot machines somewhat. And before I knew it, the mental image was enveloped by that golden hue.
That soft wind inside my head became a tempestuous howl. When my eyes opened again, gushes of green energy swarmed all over my body.
‘’Damn, cool circle.’’ Midna hummed.
‘’Circle?’’ Tilting my head to the side revealed that, hovering just over my back, rested a green glowing circle, softly spinning like a roulette. ‘’…Is that a timer?’’
‘’Maybe.’’ The goblin shrugged. Then, she aimed forward. ‘’Whatever it is, run after that bunny!’’
‘’Aye, aye!’’ I cackled.
I heard the wall crack. A dog-like creature spawned from the left wall just as I got into a runner’s position. The Kobold growled, and I took off.
Unlike Bell, I merely slapped it out of the way, smearing its remains against the Dungeon wall while I followed after our captain, leaving traces of magic akin to a powerful breeze behind me.
‘’Magic is cool as shit!’’ I cheered, yet my voice and laughter could barely be heard over the wind magic.
-X-x-X-
-Riveria Ljos Alf-
The steps of the Dungeon were slowly climbed, from the seventh floor to the sixth. Any monster ran away the moment they spotted them, or the Dungeon just didn’t bother spawning them, as it would be a futile task this far up.
After reaching the last step, their forms were revealed. A blonde with golden eyes and a muted expression, wearing broken pieces of armor that revealed part of the pale skin beneath.
Beside her, a robed woman with pointy ears carried a silvery-white staff that radiated with magic. Her green, luscious hair fell behind her back in a tied ponytail.
Ais Wallenstein and Riveria Ljos Alf. Both executives of the Loki Familia.
‘’Are you sure leaving that drop item with them was the best idea? It did look quite valuable.’’ Riveria asked the younger girl.
‘’…Good for crafting. They’ll feel safer with better weapons.’’ Ais nodded.
‘’That, I bet. It is the first time I’ve seen Udaeus carry a blade.’’ The elf confirmed, hiding a tiny smile. Internally, she was a bit proud of Ais for doing so.
Still, the scene after Boss Rex Udaeus’s defeat...
‘’I want to be stronger…’’
‘’That woman, she called me Aria…’’
The heartbreak in the girl’s face when she said that still tore at her heartstrings. Riveria had practically raised the Ais, yet could never truly help her deal with her issues.
‘I can only hope she took my words to heart.’ The elf concluded.
‘’…Do you think I Leveled Up?’’ Ais asked as they turned a corner. They had already done this path so many times that the way to the surface was practically engraved in their brains.
‘’More than likely. Albeit reckless, in the eyes of the Gods, you have achieved a feat that nobody else would be insane enough to try.’’ Riveria admitted, but sent a pointed stare at the blonde. ‘’But you better not try anything like it again. Not without your Familia there.’’
‘’Hm.’’ The tiny smile on Ais’s face got ever so slightly bigger.
Riveria nodded, pleased. The Staircase to the fifth floor was revealed in front of them. Yet, as they climbed up, intent on searching for both Tiona and Lefiya, who had remained on the surface, a sound made them still.
‘’…Whistle?’’ Ais tilted her head.
‘’Not just that, it’s… laughter?’’ Riveria frowned. Only a second later, she realized what the thick energy in the air being thrown around recklessly was. ‘Magic?’
And as they took the final step up, they saw three people, which, apparently, Ais quickly recognized.
‘’…Hestia Familia?’’ She raised an eyebrow at Ais. ‘’The ones who Bete was mocking. That man hangs around Tiona.’’
‘’Ah.’’ Now she remembered. After all, it was difficult to ignore the wolf-man’s sour mood whenever he walked the hallways, or how chirpy Tiona had been the last few days, if embarrassed at her sister’s teasing. ‘’…And they have magic of all things? Weren’t they rookies just a week ago?’’
Ais nodded, a frown locked in her face. And Riveria, too, turned to look at the fighters.
A girl with snow-white hair and bunny features. Her ruby eyes widened, and her head snapped upwards as a Dungeon Lizard spawned right above her, demonstrating her sharp senses. Blue lightning coiled around her body, and that whistling sound echoed in the cavern-like structure as she dashed upwards, powerful legs and magic answering her call to absolutely obliterate the monster in a show of sparks.
On the other side of the room, a brown-haired man with intense, chocolate eyes cackled as he extended his right arm forward in the direction of a Goblin. Suddenly, a torrent of flames escaped the limb, roasting the unprepared monster into motes of dark dust.
‘Is he carrying that Pallum on his back?’ Riveria noticed the masked girl egging the boy on, pointing at yet another monster for them to neutralize. The scene brought a smile to the elf’s face. ‘This… it almost reminds me of before we came to Orario. Youth really is reckless, isn’t it—‘
But then, something unexpected happened. Just as the young man turned around, Riveria noticed a strange wheel hovering over his back. The feeling and appearance were akin to a magic circle, which surprised her greatly. After all, even Level Two’s couldn’t hope to get something like that without intense training or taking the Mage development ability.
And the shocking part? The wheel moved, changing from the fiery orange color to a deep, dark green.
‘’Oh shit, change again!’’ The man chuckled as tiny roots started blooming out of his shoulders, going all the way to his arms and tying to his wrists and fingers.
And those same roots bloomed further in the form of whips, catching a group of Kobolds and wrapping around them like a deadly snake.
The tendrils of magic squeezed and threw the Monsters to the side, where the bunny-hume, with lightning sparkling on her arms, pushed the magic past her fingertips in the form of a lightning arc that pierced right through the weak Monsters.
‘’It’s like my Ariel…’’ Ais whispered, golden eyes glued to the girl as if staring at her for the first time.
Meanwhile, Riveria, shameful as it was, did the same but with the boy. ‘A magic that changes elements and properties whenever a set time passes? No, it’s more complicated than that, but…’
She had never in her life seen something like that. Not a book that spoke about it or a Grimoire that could grant such a magic. So how? How was something so impossible in the hands of a rookie adventurer?
The pack of Monsters was easily defeated, and Riveria, even if knowing that prying secrets from other Familias was looked down on and illegal in some cases, couldn’t help her curious inner self, taking a step forward in the man’s direction.
‘’Hahaha, that was… so fun… Oh.’’ The bunny-hume giggled as the sparks dissipated. Yet, all of a sudden, her eyes went blank, and her body hit the ground with a soft thud.
‘Mind Zero?’ Riveria frowned.
‘’Bell!’’ The man’s smile dropped as he rushed to the girl’s side, only for the wheel at his back to suddenly spin erratically. ‘’Huh?’’
‘The spell requires constant concentration?!’ Riveria’s eyes widened, the words for protection magic halfway through her mouth. ‘’Assemble, breath of the land—my name is Alf!’’
Suddenly, a forest-green glow appeared around the unconscious girl, the human, and the shoulder-pallum, just in time for what she feared would happen.
An Ignis Fatus.
Boom!
The explosion made the cavern shake. The human was thrown into a wall face-first, with the Pallum falling out of his back, her eyes rolled back. Meanwhile, the bunny girl had barely moved an inch, avoiding most of the impact.
Ais dashed, looking over the white-haired girl, so Riveria did the same for the other two. First, the Pallum, as she was resting on his back when the explosion happened. Thankfully, she still had a pulse.
‘No injuries besides a few scratches. The magic should take care of that.’ She nodded, turning to the human, who fell to the ground with a groan. ‘’You’re still conscious? How many fingers am I holding up?’’
To check for a concussion was the first thing she did. The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the three digits she had lifted… before his eyes turned to her face specifically.
‘’…A Fairy?’’ He rasped out. Riveria blinked as the man whispered some unintelligible words before also passing out.
Well… while not in their right mind, she had seen people spew out many nonsensical words, but comparing Riveria to a fairy of all things?
She shook her head and pressed her hand against his neck. There was a pulse, and like the Pallum, most of the damage had been mitigated and healed over by her spell.
‘’Ais, let’s take them to the surface.’’ She decided, looking at the girl who was… petting the bunny girl’s ears? ‘’Ais.’’
The blonde pursed her lips, looking away in shame. ‘’They looked soft…’’
Riveria sighed, palming her face. ‘’You said Tiona knows them well, right? Let’s take them to her. We should probably drop them back in their Familia’s home.’’
Ais nodded, swiftly picking up the white-haired adventurer. Riveria, too, picked up the Pallum and Human, throwing them on her back and carrying them without effort.
Yet, as they swiftly and carefully ascended the floors, Riveria kept stealing glances at the unconscious man, thinking about the magic he had portrayed.
‘…I shouldn’t invest myself in this. I can already hear Gareth’s mocking and feel Finn’s knowing stares.’ Riveria frowned in distaste. ‘Probably about how I’m nearing a hundred years and ‘‘aiming downwards’’. The idiots, Elves have much longer lifespans than other races.’
But magic like that… It would be a lifetime opportunity to see it in action, even for an Elf like her.
Riveria had much to think about.
-X-x-X-.
.
.
Author's Note:
Roy: I want hot magic teacher.
Dream Bell: Fine. (bunny paw curls?) But it's going to be an Elf.
Roy: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Dream Bell: A hag elf.
Roy: …Well, hold on a minute.
As we can see, Bell got a bit influenced by Roy and Midna in her perspective of magic. Instead of the canon ''Firebolt'' she got something a bit different.
Mythical Amber Beast, or just ''Amber Beast'' to activate it. A lightning-focused magic that infuses the body with lightning, making the user much faster, while also letting them shoot lightning rays from their bodies. It is, in a way, pretty similar to Ais's Ariel, which we know is Spirit Magic.
Extra details for it, however: Bell can become the lightning, as we see in this chapter. This can make for some pretty reckless stunts. Not to mention, ''Amber Beast'' is just the base form of it. Much like you JJK fans are thinking right now, the actual full-power mode could straight-up kill her, kekw.
As for Roy, he got gambling magic. The Kaleidoscope of colors is meant to represent ''tiers'' in the most classic gacha fashion: Grey (Common), Green (Uncommon), Blue (Rare), Purple (Epic), Gold (Legendary). There are also another 2 ''tiers'', but they won't be shown just yet.
Also, it requires constant concentration for as long as it's active, or it triggers an Ignis Fatus. Essentially, it's a high-risk, high-reward, which fits Roy to a T.
I also publish on other sites, if you wish to check them out:
FFN: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/15809388/HamsterX42
QQ: https://forum.questionablequesting.com/search/35199387/?c[users]=HamsterX42&o=date
Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/HamsterX42